Actor, Paul Bühlmann, dies aged 73

Paul Buehlmann (left) in the comedy "Der Pantoffelheld". Keystone

The Swiss actor, Paul Bühlmann, has died aged 73 at a Zurich hospital, due to a chronic kidney disorder. Bühlmann was well known for his roles in numerous plays, films and musicals.

Born on the 12th of February 1927, Bühlmann spent his entire life in Zurich. Speaking about Bühlmann’s personality, the playwright, Hans Gmür, described him as “a typical Zurich person.”

Bühlmann’s career started after being trained as an actor. He then got a taste for the stage by performing in working mens’ clubs.

Throughout the fifties and sixties, he had several roles in Gmür’s musicals and radio productions, such as “Bibi Balu” and “Golden Girl”.

He achieved widespread popularity after his breakthrough in the film “Polizist Wäckerli in Gefahr”. He and his colleague, Jörg Schneider, played the gangster team “Feusi und Vögeli”.

Later he took part in countless theatrical pieces.

Bühlmann reached the pinnacle in his career by playing the title role of the dialect play “De Schacher Sepp”. The play had its premier at the Zurich Bernhard-Theatre in 1990.

He will be remembered first and foremost as a comedian who loved farces on stage. His close friend Hans Gmür described him as “a sociable, honest and very straightforward” man.

Despite his popularity, he was forced to do less and less theatrical work because of a chronic kidney disorder. In recent years, he underwent a lot of medical treatment.

swissinfo with agencies.